Mark Wahlberg’s Pardon Plea Stirred by Victim’s Opposition

Back in 1988, a 16-year-old Mark Wahlberg, before his rise to fame as a Hollywood actor, committed a crime by assaulting two Asian men during an attempt to steal beer from a store.

Over 25 years later, Wahlberg, known for his philanthropy and devout Catholic faith, has sparked controversy with his plea for a pardon regarding this incident.

However, Kristyn Atwood, now 38 years old, who was not among the Asian men but an African American woman attacked by Wahlberg in 1986, strongly opposes the idea of forgiving hate crimes, regardless of the perpetrator's status.

Recalling the traumatic experience when Wahlberg and his associates hurled racial slurs and rocks at her and her schoolmates, including using derogatory terms, Atwood asserts that such acts of racism should not be overlooked or pardoned.

Expressing her firm stance on the matter, Atwood emphasized, “I don't think he should get a pardon.

I don't really care who he is.

If you're a racist, you're always going to be a racist.”

She firmly believes that the hate crime committed should remain on Wahlberg's record as a permanent reminder of the consequences of such actions.

Atwood vividly remembers the fear and distress she felt during the attack, highlighting the lasting impact it had on her mental well-being.

Despite no legal charges brought against Wahlberg for this specific incident, a civil rights injunction was issued against him by a Boston judge, serving as a cautionary measure against future racially motivated offenses.

Former Massachusetts assistant attorney general, Judith Beals, who played a role in obtaining the civil rights injunction against Wahlberg, recently shared her perspective on the matter through a compelling editorial.

Beals pointed out Wahlberg's recurrent pattern of racial violence, citing his lack of acknowledgment of the racist nature of his crimes as a concerning factor in his pardon request.

Beals argued against granting Wahlberg a pardon, emphasizing the need for accountability and leadership in addressing racism and hate crimes within the community.

She raised concerns about the potential implications of pardoning Wahlberg, questioning whether it would signify preferential treatment based on his celebrity status.

Despite the opposition from Atwood and Beals, there is some support for Wahlberg's pardon, notably from Hoa Trinh, one of the Asian men assaulted in 1988.

Trinh expressed a desire to see Wahlberg pardoned, suggesting that the actor had already faced consequences for his actions and should not be burdened by past mistakes indefinitely.

As the debate surrounding Wahlberg's pardon plea continues, the conflicting perspectives of the victims involved shed light on the complexity of addressing past wrongdoings and the implications of seeking forgiveness for acts of racial violence.